IRVING, Texas – Miles Williams, who concluded his collegiate football career as a defensive back for the Elon Phoenix in 2015, has earned induction into the National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments in the classroom, in the community and on the playing field. He is one of 868 total players from 275 schools qualified for membership, a new record for the number of players honored during the history of the program.
The NFF Hampshire Honor Society is comprised of college football players from all divisions of play who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college career.
Williams was a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection as well as a member of the FCS Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star this year.
Williams, a defensive back from Roebuck, S.C., sported a 3.56 GPA as a human service studies major. Williams graduated cum laude last spring, but recently completed course work for graduate school. He started all 11 games and posted 71 total tackles. Williams led the team with two interceptions, forced three fumbles and recovered another. In Elon’s win at Stony Brook, Williams tallied a personal best 12 tackles. He was been named to the Dean’s List three times and the President’s List once. He was a 2014 CAA Academic All-Conference pick as well as a 2012 Southern Conference Academic All-Conference honoree. The two-time team captain was named to the 2013 AFCA All-State Good Works Team.
Over the course of his career in the maroon and gold, Williams played in 43 games and recorded 208 total tackles. He finished with 4.5 tackles for loss, including a sack, and added four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and four interceptions.
“The number of colleges and universities who embrace the Hampshire Honor Society continues to increase each year,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “Over the past decade, it has become a powerful vehicle for schools to recognize their college football players who have distinguished themselves both academically and athletically, and we congratulate the schools and each of these young men for their commitment to excellence.”
The NFF Hampshire Honor Society capitalizes on the NFF’s National Scholar-Athlete program by greatly expanding the number of scholar-athletes the NFF can recognize each year. The program further strengthens the organization’s leadership role in encouraging academic performance by the student-athletes who play football at the 775 colleges and universities with football programs nationwide.
The 868 players honored in 2016 is a new high water mark, eclipsing the previous record of 838 honorees in 2014. The initiative has honored 6,620 student-athletes since its inception, and the program has experienced growth every year in either members or school participation since its launch in 2007.
Jon F. Hanson, the chairman and founder of The Hampshire Companies, provided the endowment to launch the NFF Hampshire Honor Society in 2007. He made the contribution as part of his legacy to the organization after serving as NFF Chairman from 1994-2006. He currently serves the organization as the chairman emeritus. Each player awarded with membership in this year’s Honor Society will receive a certificate commemorating their achievement.
“It was my great privilege to endow the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, which has greatly increased the number of college student-athletes the NFF has been able to recognize during the past 10 years,” said Hanson. “Nationwide there are thousands of football players excelling in the classroom, and they’re going on to be great leaders. The NFF Hampshire Honor Society continues to grow and allows us to shine a light on their hard work.”
“We have honored more than 6,500 student-athletes in the last 10 years thanks to Jon Hanson’s generosity,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “We are grateful for his passionate belief in the scholar-athlete ideal, and the Hampshire Honor Society allows us to showcase the names of tomorrow’s leaders while inspiring future generations to follow in their footsteps.”
Qualifications for membership in the NFF Hampshire Honor Society include:
• Being a starter or a significant contributor in one’s last year of eligibility (or a senior who has declared for the NFL Draft) at an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III or an NAIA college or university
• Achieving a 3.2 cumulative grade point average throughout entire course of undergraduate study; and
• Meeting all NCAA/NAIA-mandated progress towards degree requirements.